Inner covers

contactme_11 · February 09, 2009, 11:07:47 AM

For those of you that use telescoping covers and an inner cover; How many of you just use a solid board (such as a piece of 3/4" plywood) for the inner cover? I'm making a lot of new equipment this year and rather than spend extra time making frames with 1/4" plywood or something in the middle, would there be any pros/ cons to using a solid piece?

justgojumpit · February 09, 2009, 12:47:24 PM

The whole point of the inner cover is to allow moisture to get out of the hive in the winter. I think if you don't make these right, you may as well not make them at all. The hole and the frame are both pretty simple to make. For the hole, you could use a hole saw or set the inner covers down over a dado blade if you don't care for aesthetics. Also, inner covers are nice to place granular sugar over. This also helps absorb moisture, a major cause of winter losses in the north.

justgojumpit

dpence · February 09, 2009, 05:55:10 PM

In a pinch I have used a solid piece of 1/4" plywood with a slot cut in it for feeding purposes, but I build my own inner covers somewhat to production specs. I use a 1" X 3/4" frame with grooves cut to hold 1/4" plywood, each corner has a finger joint. I didn't think much of the 1/8" masonite types since they warped so bad, others I had trouble with them coming apart. I glue mine with Elmer's Ultimate Glue, probably an overkill but they stay together. I agree the inner cover needs to be more than a solid piece of wood to function as its intended. Just my .02.

David

fermentedhiker · February 09, 2009, 06:48:39 PM

I've thought about doing the same thing myself. Scrap wood/plywood just begs me to do something useful with it :) That and I notice that traditional inner covers appear to violate bee space on the underside. So I'd thought about using a piece of plywood with the center hole cutout and then rip a bit of wood to make a lip around the edge for the topside to allow for ventilation. The wheels are always turning you know :-D

contactme_11 · February 09, 2009, 08:05:49 PM

Quote from: fermentedhiker on February 09, 2009, 06:48:39 PM
I've thought about doing the same thing myself. Scrap wood/plywood just begs me to do something useful with it :) That and I notice that traditional inner covers appear to violate bee space on the underside. So I'd thought about using a piece of plywood with the center hole cutout and then rip a bit of wood to make a lip around the edge for the topside to allow for ventilation. The wheels are always turning you know :-D

This was actually my very same thought for an alternative construction. I can't really see any reason why I couldn't do the same thing with a thicker piece anyway. I have no problem as far as the construction of how to make anything out of wood, my problem is I would rather not by anything if I don't have to and I've already got 1/2", 3/4", etc plywood, just not 1/4".

wayne · February 09, 2009, 08:11:06 PM

Check the bee space between the flat cover and the frames. The one time I tried it they glued the inner to the frames.

Utah · February 09, 2009, 09:09:40 PM

I have several home made inner covers. The reason is that I do not like to pay the price of the ones at the supply store (if they ever have any).

I have used scrap 1/4 plywood with the typical hole in the top. It has worked fairly well. No real moisture problems, I think because it warped a bit and actually allowed a small space to ventilate. It gets very glued to the frames below and the edges of the hive. The bees also do not have room to climb over to the next frame. I opened it last weekend and thought this hive had been relatively inactive. Nope, it is one of my better hives this winter with LOTS of very quiet bees. Tight living space but doing well.

I also used some scrap 3/8 OSB cut to fit a super to correct the bee space problem above and to have better ventilation. This time I cut the whole middle out and left 3 inches around the outer edge except for the very front - I cut out a 2 inch square right on the outer front edge for an entrance and for ventilation. I left some OSB material behind this entrance/vent to keep the inner cover strong and in one piece. It is a weird shape in the front but I think it is going to work fairly well. I just hope it doesnt get glued too tightly when I check it next month. It would probably be better made with better plywood of 1/4 to 3/8 inch.

Maybe someone can try it too and let me know what they think. It is an inexpensive way to go.

Utah

fermentedhiker · February 09, 2009, 09:49:11 PM

Quote from: wayne on February 09, 2009, 08:11:06 PM
Check the bee space between the flat cover and the frames. The one time I tried it they glued the inner to the frames.

I haven't had any problems with them sticking my hivetop feeder to the frames which is smooth bottomed(I suppose the fact that it's styrofoam might be a factor). I have far less burr comb on top of the frames with the feeder than I did with the regular inner cover. They a still able to move about on top of the frames. I purchased my hive bodies from betterbee and currently use pierco frames. Perhaps your hive bodies have a shallower rabbet or the top bars of your frames are thicker?

contactme_11 · February 10, 2009, 08:18:34 AM

Quote from: Utah on February 09, 2009, 09:09:40 PM
I also used some scrap 3/8 OSB cut to fit a super to correct the bee space problem above and to have better ventilation. This time I cut the whole middle out and left 3 inches around the outer edge except for the very front - I cut out a 2 inch square right on the outer front edge for an entrance and for ventilation. I left some OSB material behind this entrance/vent to keep the inner cover strong and in one piece. It is a weird shape in the front but I think it is going to work fairly well. I just hope it doesnt get glued too tightly when I check it next month.

You don't think that the bees won't fill an area that big with burr comb and glue that top edge down with so much room to work?

Utah · February 10, 2009, 04:00:57 PM

Quote from: contactme_11 on February 10, 2009, 08:18:34 AM
You don't think that the bees won't fill an area that big with burr comb and glue that top edge down with so much room to work?

Well, the 3/8 inch OSB was what I had at the time so I used it. I figure that the standard inner cover has about a 1/4 inch gap more than just the flat plywood before. This 3/8 OSB is only 1/8 inch more gap than the standard inner covers that cost $12 dollars. And at least I have the vent at top that I did not have before. We will see what happens and if they glue it tight like they do the flat plywood.